A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Alums,

I hope this finds you well and safe, and looking ahead to brighter days as vaccination and continued prudence make a return to pre-pandemic life a possibility. At school, our staff continues relentlessly to deliver on our promises to our families, despite the odds; teachers are spending about 50% more time planning and re-designing lessons, adjusting to student needs while supporting them simultaneously online and in-person.

It is incredibly difficult, and we're doing it incredibly well. We've been encouraged all year by positive parent feedback, combined with record-setting annual giving levels and a record 96% re-enrollment – not to mention happy children who are on track academically.

In these ways and more, our families have responded to our calls for flexibility, understanding, patience and unity; like never before, the school/home partnership has been vital this year. Ever since Nan Hunter founded ACDS in 1982, "community" has been one of our philosophical pillars. During the pandemic, it has been a literal support as well.

Of course, the costs of the year are still mounting. The staff is exhausted and we have big initiatives underway – our important work with diversity, equity, and inclusion, for example, or our new middle school math and K-8 reading and writing programs – that deserve more attention than our bandwidth allows. I'm smiling as I write this because since March, I have more than 6,800 unread emails in my inbox (but none of them are from alumni!). We are all doing the best we can to make sure our students are challenged, stimulated, and loved – that's what matters most, and it's happening.

Almaden Country Day School remains an island in Silicon Valley, offering balance (academic rigor, character development, and joyful learning) where other schools have chosen to focus intensely on outcomes at the expense of student wellness, creativity, and curiosity. It is this uncompromising commitment to inspiring whole, engaged, caring and confident young people that draws families to our school, and motivates our dedicated staff and volunteers to keep giving despite the odds.

Wishing you continued health and fulfillment – warmly,

Ole

A FORTY-YEAR OLD DREAM REALIZED:

THE FISHER EVENT CENTER

ACDS launched a fundraising campaign to raise critical resources to outfit the Fisher Event Center and bring the facility fully to life when we open its doors in Fall 2021.

The Center is not only a dream come true, but is also a unique structure amongst school gym/auditoriums. The above video, produced by Jake Heindel '08, grants us an insider look into the Center's design and construction, plus an exclusive interview with Campus Committee Chair Jay Walstrum (Maddie '14) and Center Architect Marty Hochroth (Alex '14, Jaden '16). In the video, Mr. Hochroth explains how the form and function of the Fisher Event Center will fulfill its vision of being the school's "living room."

We are currently at the midway point of this campaign, but there is still time for you to participate. Our goal is to raise at least $300,000 by April 9 so we can hit the ground running with drama, athletics, P.E., school assemblies and more in the fall. Gifts of $1,000 or more are acknowledged with a personalizable brick paver that will be a part of the Center's courtyard. To learn more about how you can be an enduring part of this moment in the school's history, please visit almadencountrydayschool.org/eventcenter.

To track the campaign's progress, follow us on social media.

Let's do this together!

ASK THE MASK ELECTIVE

A popular new elective this year is the pandemic advice column, "Ask the Mask." Every week, students in the elective collect emails from their inbox where topics range from how to combat boredom, strained friendships, Zoom fatigue, insomnia, and more.

Teacher Mike Fishback has sponsored student newspapers at two other middle schools, and the advice column was always the most popular. "In the olden days before Google Forms, we'd staple a folder to a bulletin board for students to submit their handwritten anonymous letters. This year, it felt like the right time to revive this activity. The pandemic focus was intentional: kids have so much they want to ask and vent about right now."

Students in this elective are learning collaborative revision and strengthening their empathy skills. Each response is drafted by one or more students and then goes to another set of students for feedback and revision. Mr. Fishback says, "Most responses begin with an affirmation of the letter-writer's dilemma and close with an expression of support or optimism."

So, who IS the Mask? The Mask is a group of a dozen dedicated students in grades 6-8 who work together to provide uplifting and hopeful advice to those in need. "I really enjoy this class because I like to think I am helping somebody who needs help," said class member Makoto Abe. "Also, it's fun!"

Link to advice column: https://askthemask-acds.blogspot.com/

Listen to the Behind the Scenes of "Ask the Mask"

COMMUNITY INTEREST GROUPS

To keep families connected with ACDS and each other while we are still apart, we've created Community Interest Groups. The Fitness Fun group and the very popular Family Fun Night are the current offerings. For Family Fun Nights, we've played Family Feud and Scattergories, had a holiday lights scavenger hunt, and a Pumpkin Pie Bake-Along led by seventh grade students Ellie Krawez '23 and Payton Ahlgren '23.

We also recently started the Cooking Club group and have begun sharing recipes and even loaning kitchen appliances while a group member's kitchen is undergoing a major renovation.

Another fun ACDS evening was the Annual Giving Campaign event that introduced the first Cougar Mocktail:

Cougar Spritzer Mocktail
2 parts lemonade
1 part pomegranate juice
1 part Sprite or club soda
Serve over ice and garnish with mixed berries

Hint: The Cougar Spritzer is a great beverage to serve on Family Fun Nights.

We'd love to have alumni join the Community Interest Groups. Sign up on our Mighty Network for more information.

TEACHER APPRECIATION

We appreciate our teachers, especially in such extraordinary times as they go above and beyond to provide the ACDS educational experience to students both on campus and at home.

We reimagined the Faculty Appreciation Holiday Luncheon and Raffle that happens just before winter break. PSA parents created delicious to-go lunches for a Zoom celebration, which included a raffle of parent-donated gift baskets.

We've also continued the tradition of providing treats and videos for teachers once a month. Click the links below to see what students shared with their teachers.

January - first and second grade students gave teachers movie night packages, including goodies and a video with tips from the students on how to enjoy a movie.

How to watch a movie

February - third and fourth grade students gave teachers game night packages including snacks, a deck of cards, and card game recommendations.

Card game recommendations

March - fifth grade families provided gardening gloves, wildflower seeds and some of the teachers' favorite snacks

How teachers help fifth grade students grow

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT

Mr. Michael Kim-Stevens is the Technology Coach and Innovation Specialist and manages the ACDS maker space, the Imaginarium, for students in first through eighth grade. He also teaches popular middle school electives such as Calling All Makers. In addition, he leads and supports the faculty in Google for Education tools as well as other SaaS edu-software.

Mr. Kim-Stevens is integral in the ACDS campus technology infrastructure and played a critical role in supporting the ACDS Continuous Learning Platform when we entered Shelter in Place orders from the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. ACDS's Continuous Learning platform continues to be one of the school's success stories as it shifted from solely in-person instruction to 100% in a matter of a several days causing little disruption to our students' education.

Mr. Kim-Stevens tells us that a personal experience he'd like to highlight was being a co-director of a performance dance group while he was at UCSC. In his free time, he enjoys running, watching Marvel movies, going to renaissance faires and BBQing with family and friends. Mr. Kim-Stevens also enjoys traveling, reading, and relaxing by the beach.

Click here to read more about Mr. Kim-Stevens

Follow Mr. Kim-Stevens on twitter @Mr_KimStevens

ALUMNI IN MEDICINE

Hetana Pate l'98 studied for her MD at St. George's University on the island of Grenada and in Newcastle, England. She is currently employed at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, CA, where she is a second-year resident. She is completing her training in Family Medicine.

Reflecting on how her education at ACDS contributed to her life and career, she says:

"My experience at ACDS shaped my learning habits and discipline. The teachers at ACDS encouraged a learning environment that allowed us to explore and foster intellectual curiosity and inquisitive minds. All these characteristics are important while pursuing a career in medicine. Lastly, ACDS was fundamental in ensuring a school-life balance through sports and extracurricular activities. This is extremely important as often times it is easy to be consumed by the long work days and rigorous training. I am truly grateful to still be connected to the extended ACDS family and network."

Eric Sumner '04 earned an undergraduate degree in biology/pre-med from UCLA and attended medical school at Touro University. He completed his residency at Kaiser Oakland in internal medicine. Eric was named the Internal Resident of the Year from his residency program. Eric and his wife, Sara, are in the first year of their three-year specialty fellowships. Eric is in Critical Care Pulmonology at Kaiser Oakland, and Sara is in Pediatric Rheumatology at Stanford Lucille Packard Children's Hospital.

Katy Chiswell '09 is a registered nurse at the VA Hospital in Seattle in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. She primarily works with cardiac patients who have just had open heart surgery. These patients come straight from the operating table and Katy and her peers take care of them until they are well enough to walk out of the ICU. Katy says that when she looks back on her time at Country School, one of her favorite projects was creating the edible cell in 6th grade science. This project sparked her interest in learning Biology. She feels that ACDS set her up so that by the time she was applying to college, she had no doubt in her mind that she wanted to be a nurse.

Shelby Schrager attended ACDS from 2001 to 2010. She is a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Phoenix Children's Hospital. She cares for very sick babies and helps children with heart defects recover from surgery. Shelby says that she is thankful for her time at ACDS because it inspired her to serve others and instilled in her a strong sense of confidence and creativity. ACDS shaped her into who she is today and gave her the skills to work in today's ever-changing world of healthcare.

Natalie Drucker '12 studied kinesiology and health sciences at California Polytechnic State University where she worked on a mobile health unit for underserved women and infants without access to healthcare. Currently she works for Stanford Health Care as a Medical Assistant in internal medicine. She has recently been admitted into physician assistant (PA) school that guides PA's to work in primary care for underserved communities.

Sharing her thoughts on how her education and experiences at ACDS contributed to her life and career today, Natalie commented: "I believe that I learned how to be an empathetic person and listener due to the incredible faculty that fostered my passions and truly listened to my needs. The staff encouraged me to dream large and taught me how to care for others in the community. The nurturing environment and seeing the best in others became a model in my own life that taught me how treat the people that I help every day."

Click here for photos

NEWS & NOTES

Members of the Class of 2014 in "Fiddler on the Roof"

Mrs. Loretta Foulk lives in Grass Valley, CA. She was recruited by Mrs. Nan Hunter as an Early Childhood Education teacher and worked with Mrs. Liz Semichy to develop the ACDS ECE program. She holds an Early Childhood Education camp for her grandchildren every summer.

Mrs. Lyn Distaso taught at ACDS from 1985-2004. She has been living in Reno for 18 years. She taught kindergarten in Reno for three years and then retired permanently. Since then she has been working at Renown South Meadows for 13 years as a patient advocate. Mrs. Distaso has four grandchildren that keep her busy. Her two children, Gina Distaso Aguiar'94. Michael Distaso'96, also attended ACDS.

Charu Gulati taught middle school science at Almaden Country School from 2002-2007. She then moved to India and continued teaching at the American International School. She returned back to the United States in 2018 and is currently a middle school science educator and an innovation coach in San Carlos, California.

Mrs. Gulati has been selected for the 2021 Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship- a professional development opportunity by a partnership between the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions. As one of only 50 educators selected from across the U.S. and Canada, she will embark on a once in a lifetime journey to an incredible destination where she will have an opportunity to learn alongside naturalists, scientists and National Geographic explorers. Read more about Mrs. Gulati

Katrina Foulk Beckstrand '88 is a retired registered nurse living near her mother, Mrs. Loretta Foulk in Grass Valley, CA. She writes that, "It's great to see that ACS is still giving the world small classroom sizes and attention to kids that benefit them greatly."

Jeffrey Beckstrand attended ACDS and is currently working on a master's degree in mathematics.

Ben Costa '98 and James Parks '98 will be releasing the third book in the Rickety Stitch series, Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo Book 3: The Battle of the Bards on April 27, 2021. Learn more at https://landofeem.com/rickety-stitch/

Brian Huhn '10, Neda Amin '13, and Apurva Seshadri '19 participated as panelists in the annual Middle School Information Night. Brian, Neda and Apurva shared their middle school experiences and talked about how middle school prepared them for high school and beyond.

Jackson Burrill '13 will return to Bellarmine as the tight ends and fullbacks coach and control analyst. He attended high school at Bellarmine and graduated in 2017. He will graduate from San Jose State in June 2021.

Alyvia McIntyre '17 has been selected to play volleyball at Husson University in Bangor, Maine. Alyvia played on the ACDS volleyball team and the Leland High School volleyball team. She also played on several club teams, including Motion Volleyball Club, Stingray Volleyball Club, Titan Athletics and Academy Volleyball club.

KEEP IN TOUCH

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